The Three Pigs

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Wiesner, David. The Three Pigs. New York: Clarion Books, 2001.  ISBN 0618007016

2. PLOT SUMMARY

This book begins with the original tale of the three little pigs. After blowing down the houses of the first two pigs, the reader finds the wolf at the third pig’s brick house ready to finish the traditional story. However, in a unique twist, the three pigs have managed to step out of their storybook. They fold the pages into a paper airplane and eventually end up in a nursery rhyme. After leaving that story with a new friend, the cat and the fiddle, they jump into a different fairy tale. This time, they save a dragon from a knight and again end up outside of the storybook. Finally, they see the third pig’s brick house and decide to put their story back together so that they can go home. With their new friends in tow, they all get to live happily ever after.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This fractured fairy tale begins with the original story, and most students will be able to “huff and puff” right along with the well known repetition. These pigs, however, get to go on a new adventure as the setting shifts from the woods where their homes were built to the freedom of empty pages with paper airplanes and finally into other stories.  This interesting and unexpected take on the original is fun for older readers who may see the traditional story as boring or a “baby” book but would be able to make deep text connections between this tale and the original or even another version or variant.

The illustrations in this book are masterful. The change from a classic flat style picture while within a story to artwork that has an almost lifelike look on the pages outside of the story, not only enhances the visual quality of the book but also advances the plot to show the character development the pigs undergo. Wiesner gives them a freedom to explore outside of the book in blank white spaces where excitement and joy and clearly visible on their faces. There are also many subtleties within the illustrations, like the facial expression of the wolf when the pig is blown out of the story but the text says he "ate the pig up," that could easily be overlooked by an inexperienced reader. Therefore, young and even fast readers may not notice, understand, or connect with all of the details in the book. This is definitely a book where reading the pictures is just as important as reading the text.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2002 CALDECOTT MEDAL

2002 IRMA BLACK AWARD

From Kate McClelland, chair of the 2002 Caldecott Award Selection Committee: "Witty dialogue and physical humor make this a selection that will have youngsters squealing with delight. ”

From Publisher’s Weekly: “Wiesner's...brilliant use of white space and perspective...evokes a feeling that the characters can navigate endless possibilities--and that the range of story itself is limitless.”

From School Library Journal: “Witty dialogue and physical comedy abound in this inspired retelling of a familiar favorite.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather other Caldecott award winners and honors such as:

•                   Stevens, Janet. Tops and Bottoms. ISBN 0152928510

•                   McDermott, Gerald. Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest. ISBN 0152656618

Gather other books by Wiesner such as:

•                      Mr. Wuffles. ISBN 0618756612

•                      Tuesday. ISBN 0395870828

Gather other versions, variants, or adaptations of The Three Little Pigs such as:

•                      Scieszka, Jon. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. ISBN 0140544518

•                      Brett, Jan. The 3 Little Dassies. ISBN 0399254994

•                      Kimmel, Eric. The Three Little Tamales.  ISBN 0761455191

Pair this book with a version or variant to teach a compare and contrast lesson.